The European Football League (EFL) is a European Cup style tournament for European American Football teams affiliated to EFAF (European Federation of American Football). The final game of the EFL is called the Eurobowl, which has been held annually since 1986.
Under the governance of EFAF, comparable with UEFA in football, the best American Football teams in Europe participate in an annual competition. EFAF determine the relative strength of each of its 17 affiliate leagues and allocates teams to the 4 divisions accordingly, thus not all nations take part. National League Champions, runners-up or teams with International success are eligible for the EFL. Teams from 'weaker' leagues may take part in the EFAF Cup a sort of UEFA Europa League for European American Football teams.
Format [edit]
Teams are split into 4 divisions of 3 or 2 teams. In a division of 3 teams play 2 matches, once at home to one opponent and the other away to the other opponent. In a division of 2 teams, each team plays each other home and away. The division winners then advance to the play-offs.
The play-off format was changed for the 2008 season. Tournament will be expanded to an eight-team competition. The two finalists from the 2007 season, Vienna Vikings and Marburg Mercenaries, earned automatic berths for the next season and the two semi-finalists, Eidsvoll 1814's from Norway and Tirol Raiders from Austria, earned a spot for the national champions of their respective countries. In quarterfinals these teams face the four winners of the divisional round. In semi-finals teams will be paired by the Eurobowl seeding system, with the best-seeded team facing the worst and the second-best facing the second-worst. Winners will then advance to the Eurobowl.
For a list of Champions by year see Eurobowl.
Records and statistics [edit]
By club [edit]
| Club |
Won |
Runner-up |
Years won |
Years runner-up |
Vikings Vienna |
4 |
4 |
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 |
2001, 2003, 2008, 2010 |
Swarco Raiders Tirol |
3 |
0 |
2008, 2009, 2011 |
|
Bergamo Lions |
3 |
3 |
2000, 2001, 2002 |
1994, 2004, 2005 |
Hamburg Blue Devils |
3 |
2 |
1996, 1997, 1998 |
1999, 2000 |
Amsterdam Crusaders |
2 |
3 |
1991, 1992 |
1988, 1989, 1993 |
Braunschweig Lions |
2 |
1 |
1999, 2003 |
2002 |
London Olympians |
2 |
1 |
1993, 1994 |
1995 |
Berlin Adler |
1 |
2 |
2010 |
1991, 2011 |
Legnano Frogs |
1 |
1 |
1989 |
1990 |
Düsseldorf Panther |
1 |
0 |
1995 |
|
Manchester Spartans |
1 |
0 |
1990 |
|
Helsinki Roosters |
1 |
0 |
1988 |
|
Taft Vantaa |
1 |
0 |
1986 |
|
by country [edit]
| Championships |
Country |
Year |
| 7 |
Austria |
2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 |
| 7 |
Germany |
1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2010 |
| 4 |
Italy |
1989, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| 3 |
United Kingdom |
1990, 1993, 1994 |
| 2 |
Netherlands |
1991, 1992 |
| 2 |
Finland |
1986, 1988 |
See also [edit]
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